Students enrolled in one major specialize in one of the fields Hood offers. Declaration of major is made during the spring of the sophomore year. An academic department may refuse to accept as a major, or may drop as a major, a student whose Grade Point Average in the discipline falls below 2.0.

The Double Major

As a double major, the student specializes in two of the fields Hood offers. At least one of these fields must be declared during the spring of the sophomore year. Students must identify the second major in the same manner during the spring of the junior year. Students should consult the appropriate department chairperson for assignment to a second adviser in the second major.

Double majors must meet the major requirements of both departments. The courses may count for requirements in both majors, but the credits can only count toward one major.

Students must confer with both advisers prior to each registration. In programs where there is great overlapping of requirements, a student may not double major (e.g., law and society and political science).

The Interdepartmental Major

The purpose of the major is to allow students with superior achievement to use the existing courses, curriculums and programs to structure an individualized program of studies with the guidance and assistance of a program advisory committee.

Working with the Program Advisory Committee, consisting of faculty members from the represented disciplines, the student submits a petition of interdepartmental major requirements no later than March 15 of the sophomore year to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies for consideration. Transfer students with first-semester junior status must submit petitions no later than October 15 or March 15 of the first semester on campus.

To graduate as an interdepartmental major with an individually designed program, a student must have at least 15 credits in one of the areas represented in the major and at least 12 credits in another field for a total of at least 30 credits, 15 of which must be at the 300- or 400-level. A 300- or 400-level capstone course is required. Approval is necessary before the student implements the program. The individualized program is a contract and, as such, is binding.

Students may count toward the major only those courses which are included in the program outline. (Courses within the disciplines contained in the interdepartmental major, but not included in the program outline, are considered electives.)

If a student wishes to revise the approved program, the primary adviser will assist and the Program Advisory Committee must approve the amended outline by majority vote. Any amendments must be submitted to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies for approval. However, no significant changes will be permitted if the student is within 36 semester hours of graduation.

Through an integration of the liberal arts and the professions, Hood College provides an education that empowers students to use their hearts, minds and hands to meet personal, professional and global challenges and to lead purposeful lives of responsibility, leadership, service and civic engagement.